Smitha Hariharan has been appointed Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) at Gulfstream Aerospace, an American aircraft company, effective immediately. Hariharan will drive Gulfstream’s sustainable transformation and industry goals in this newly established position by aligning business strategies with sustainability principles and fostering long-term value through impactful thought leadership.
Previously, Hariharan was the Global Head of Sustainability at Halliburton Energy Services, where she developed and implemented Halliburton’s global sustainability strategy, overseeing governance, benchmark data, and stakeholder engagements.
Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream said, “Sustainability continues to be a major focus for our company and the business aviation industry. Gulfstream is committed to supporting General Dynamics’ goal of reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon dioxide emissions by 40% by 2034, relative to 2019. Smitha’s expertise will help us elevate our strengths while driving our strategy forward at an advanced pace. We look forward to the insights and knowledge she will bring as we continue to lead the industry in our efforts.”
Gulfstream highlighted that its next-generation aircraft fleet offers fuel efficiency gains of up to 33% over previous models. The company has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 18% since 2014 while expanding its facilities by 30%. In November 2023, Gulfstream completed the first transatlantic flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in both engines.
“Gulfstream is innovating for a sustainable future,” added Burns. “We are committed to doing our part in advancing the industry forward to achieve our shared sustainability goals.”
Earlier this year, Gulfstream signed an agreement with the International Aerospace Environmental Group (IAEG) supplier assessment initiative to manage ESG risk and compliance. This agreement encourages all Gulfstream suppliers to share their sustainability strategies to assess ESG risk and identify opportunities for overall sustainability performance improvement. This voluntary programme aims to enhance sustainability within the aerospace industry and its extended supply chain, driving positive change and creating a more sustainable and resilient future.